Mermet, Auguste

1815-1888

Dramatic composer; son of a French general; abandoned his military profession and turned his attention to music. He studied the flute and under Halevy and Lesueur took up composition. After struggling for fifteen years he succeeded in getting his opera, Roland a Roncevaux, performed, but it proved only moderately successful, being commonplace musically and interesting only because of the martial character of its libretto. He then wrote Joan of Arc which was not so well received as his other opera had been. In 1865 he received cross of the Legion of Honor. Besides the operas mentioned he has written La Banniere du roi and Pais, and other French compositions, also an opera-bouffe entitled Pierrot pendu.